2008 Woodie Awards
Academic policy changes augment standards
By Erica Tuggle
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: News
University officials are implementing academic policy changes this fall semester including GPA increases and the reduction of the number of class repeats, officials said.
Under the new policies, all students, regardless of the number of hours they are taking, have to have a 2.0 GPA and the number of classes that can be repeated has gone from five repeats to three, Linda Orth, university registrar, said.
"Anyone in the [academic] hole needs to put their nose to the grindstone and bring [their GPA] up," Orth said.
Students who have already had three, four and five repeats get to keep those, but get no more, Orth said.
This policy is applicable to all catalog years, but does not apply to graduate students. This will encourage students to make the most of their classroom time, Orth said.
Josh Cain, a Bladenboro, N.C., junior said: "It's okay because I think a certain GPA should be required anyway. Why even go to college if you have a 1.0 GPA? That shows that you didn't learn anything."
Orth said the policy changes will help students know what standards they are held to.
"Wouldn't you rather know what is expected of you from the beginning?" Orth said.
The more hours accumulated, the harder it is to raise the GPA, Orth said.
Orth said, in relation to the changing number of repeats, the graduation committee will look at the highest grade of the repeats to count for graduation, but if the student goes over the number of repeats, both grades will count.
Developmental course grades or any other grades besides college level courses will not be included within the 2.0 required GPA and will not be a factor in academic probation, Orth said.
Janaka Bowen, a Memphis junior, said, "I think the 2.0 GPA is supposed to be changing the university for the better, and is giving other students a chance."
Another academic policy change is the student Latin honors for graduation.
The requirements for Magna Cum Laude and Suma Cum Laude are changing respectively from a required 3.7 to a 3.5 GPA and from a 4.0 GPA to a 3.9 or higher GPA. Orth said this will increase the number of Suma Cum Laude graduates at commencement.
Under the new policies, all students, regardless of the number of hours they are taking, have to have a 2.0 GPA and the number of classes that can be repeated has gone from five repeats to three, Linda Orth, university registrar, said.
"Anyone in the [academic] hole needs to put their nose to the grindstone and bring [their GPA] up," Orth said.
Students who have already had three, four and five repeats get to keep those, but get no more, Orth said.
This policy is applicable to all catalog years, but does not apply to graduate students. This will encourage students to make the most of their classroom time, Orth said.
Josh Cain, a Bladenboro, N.C., junior said: "It's okay because I think a certain GPA should be required anyway. Why even go to college if you have a 1.0 GPA? That shows that you didn't learn anything."
Orth said the policy changes will help students know what standards they are held to.
"Wouldn't you rather know what is expected of you from the beginning?" Orth said.
The more hours accumulated, the harder it is to raise the GPA, Orth said.
Orth said, in relation to the changing number of repeats, the graduation committee will look at the highest grade of the repeats to count for graduation, but if the student goes over the number of repeats, both grades will count.
Developmental course grades or any other grades besides college level courses will not be included within the 2.0 required GPA and will not be a factor in academic probation, Orth said.
Janaka Bowen, a Memphis junior, said, "I think the 2.0 GPA is supposed to be changing the university for the better, and is giving other students a chance."
Another academic policy change is the student Latin honors for graduation.
The requirements for Magna Cum Laude and Suma Cum Laude are changing respectively from a required 3.7 to a 3.5 GPA and from a 4.0 GPA to a 3.9 or higher GPA. Orth said this will increase the number of Suma Cum Laude graduates at commencement.
